Display device and method of inspecting the same

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a sensing line and a data driver. The sensing line is in a display panel. The data driver includes a plurality of integrated circuits. Each of the integrated circuits includes an interface, which includes a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) and a crack detector. The crack detector detects cracks of the panel based on the sensing line and transmits and receives information corresponding to the crack to and from adjacent ones of the integrated circuits using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0150206, filed on Nov. 11, 2016, and entitled: “Display Device and Method of Inspecting the Same,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more embodiments described herein relate to a display device and a method for inspecting a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of displays have been developed. Examples include liquid crystal displays and organic light emitting displays. In manufacturing these and other displays, multiple panels are formed on one mother substrate. The substrate is then scribed and divided into separate panels. When the substrate is divided (e.g., cut), cracks may form in the panels. Cracks may also occur as the result of various environmental influences. When an overcurrent is supplied to a panel having a crack, a fire may occur.

During manufacturing, an inspection may be performed to locate cracks in a panel. Also, when the panel uses multiple integrated circuits, a method for resetting the integrated circuits in accordance with a detected crack may be performed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a display device includes a sensing line in a panel; and a data driver including a plurality of integrated circuits, each of the integrated circuits including an interface which includes: a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connected to an external system; and a crack detector to detect a crack of the panel based on the sensing line and to transmit and receive information corresponding to the crack to and from adjacent ones of the integrated circuits using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI.

The sensing line may include a first side connected to a first integrated circuit among the integrated circuits and a second side connected to a second integrated circuit among the integrated circuits.

The crack detector may include a voltage supplier/receiver to supply or receive a voltage to or from the sensing line; a voltage detector to determine whether the voltage from the voltage supplier/receiver is a normal voltage; and reset logic connected to the voltage detector to transmit and receive at least one of an error signal or a reset signal using the transmission terminal and the reception terminal. The error signal may be indicative of the crack of the panel. The reset signal may correspond to an off state of the first and second integrated circuits.

The error signal may be sequentially supplied to the second integrated circuit through the first integrated circuit. The reset signal may be sequentially supplied to the first integrated circuit through the second integrated circuit. The reset signal may set the first and second integrated circuits in off states. When a level of the voltage is lower than a predetermined level, the voltage detector may determine that the voltage is an abnormal voltage and is to supply a detection signal to the reset logic. The reset logic may supply the error signal to an adjacent one of the integrated circuits.

Each of the integrated circuits may include a voltage source to output a driving power source; a data processor to rearrange data items supplied via the interface and to store the rearranged data items in a memory; and a channel area to generate data signals based on the data items stored in the memory. When the crack occurs in the panel, the crack detector may set the source, the data processor, the memory, and the channel are to be in off states. The sensing line may be at an edge of the panel.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a method for inspecting a display device including a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI), the method comprising: supplying a predetermined voltage from a first integrated circuit in a data driver to a second integrated circuit in the data driver via a sensing line in a panel; determining, by the second integrated circuit, a level of the predetermined voltage; and turning off integrated circuits in the data driver when the voltage level is lower than a predetermined voltage level, wherein the first and second integrated circuits transmit and receive information corresponding to crack of the panel using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI.

When the voltage level is lower than the predetermined voltage level, the method may include generating, by the second integrated circuit, an error signal. The error signal may be sequentially supplied to the second integrated circuit through the first integrated circuit.

The method may include generating a reset signal, by the first integrated circuit, corresponding to the error signal. The method may include sequentially supplying the reset signal to the first and second integrated circuits. The reset signal may turn off the first and second integrated circuits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a display device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a data driver;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an integrated circuit;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an interface unit;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a panel crack detecting process and an integrated circuit resetting process; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method for inspecting a display panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art. The embodiments (or portions thereof) may be combined to form additional embodiments.

In the drawings, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it can be directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

When an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the another element or be indirectly connected or coupled to the another element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. In addition, when an element is referred to as “including” a component, this indicates that the element may further include another component instead of excluding another component unless there is different disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, it can be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a display device which includes a panel 102, a scan driver 110, a data driver 120, a sensing line 130, and a pixel unit 140. The pixel unit 140 includes pixels PXL connected to data lines D and scan lines S. Each pixel PXL emits light with a predetermined brightness based on data signals.

When the display device is an organic light emitting display device, each pixel PXL includes a plurality of transistors (including a driving transistor) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The pixels PXL are selected when scan signals are supplied to the scan lines S and emit light based on the data signals from the data lines D. The driving transistors in the pixels PXL supply currents to OLEDs based on data signals, and the OLEDs emit light components with predetermined brightness components based on the data signals.

When the display device is a liquid crystal display device, each pixel PXL includes a switching transistor and a liquid crystal capacitor. The pixels PXL are selected when the scan signals are supplied to the scan lines S and receive the data signals from the data lines D. Then, the pixels PXL control transmittance of liquid crystal based on the data signals, so that light components with predetermined brightness components are emitted.

The scan driver 110 supplies the scan signals to the scan lines S. For example, the scan driver 110 may sequentially supply the scan signals to the scan lines S. The pixels PXL may be selected in units of horizontal lines.

The data driver 120 supplies the data signals to the data lines D. For example, the data driver 120 may supply the data signals to the data lines D in synchronization with the scan signals. Then, the data signals are supplied to the pixels PXL selected by the scan signals. The data driver 120 is connected to pads to receive various voltages and/or signals including data. The data driver 120 includes a plurality of integrated circuits mounted in the panel 102.

At least one sensing line 130 is formed as a wiring line for detecting crack of the panel 102. The sensing line 130 may be formed, for example, at an edge of the panel 102 to allow for crack detection. Ends of the sensing line 130 are electrically connected to the data driver 120. For example, the sensing line 130 may be connected from one side of the data driver 120 to another side of the data driver 120, via the edge of the panel 102, so that the sensing line 130 has predetermined capacitance and resistance. Therefore, when a crack occurs in panel 102, the resistance of sensing line 130 changes.

For example, when a crack occurs in the panel 102, the crack is generated in metal that forms the sensing line 130. When the crack is generated in the sensing line 130, resistance of the sensing line 130 increases. Thus, according to one embodiment, a crack in the panel 102 is detected based on a change in resistance of the sensing line 130. In addition, the sensing line 130 may be formed using at least one of the metals used in a process for forming the panel 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the data driver 120 which includes at least two integrated circuits. In the example of FIG. 2, three integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 are illustrated that supply data signals to data lines D connected thereto.

Each of the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 includes a predetermined number of channels. For example, each of the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 may have a uniform number of channels, e.g., 384 or 480. Since each of the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 has a uniform number of channels, the number of integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 in data driver 120 increases in accordance with an increase in resolution of the panel 102.

When a crack occurs in the panel 102, the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 may be simultaneously reset. For example, when a crack occurs in the panel 102, an image with desired brightness is not displayed by the pixel unit 140. In this case, an overcurrent (or overvoltage) may be supplied from the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 to the panel 102 so that the image with the desired brightness is displayed by the pixel unit 140. Therefore, a fire may break out in the panel 102. In order to prevent fire from breaking out in the panel 102, according to the embodiment, the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 are simultaneously reset when a crack occurs in the panel 102.

In order to reduce or minimize dead space of the panel 102, various elements including an element for supplying the data signals may be included in the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an integrated circuit representative of the integrated circuits in FIG. 2. The integrated circuit 200 in FIG. 3 includes a voltage unit 210, interface unit 220, data processing unit 230, channel unit 240, and a memory 250.

The voltage unit 210 generates voltages for driving the panel 102. For example, the voltage unit 210 may supply a gate high voltage VGH and a gate low voltage VGL to the scan driver 110. In addition, the voltage unit 210 may generate a gamma reference voltage Vreg for generating gamma voltages and an initializing voltage Vint for initializing the pixels PXL. Thus, the voltage unit 210 generates various voltages for driving the panel 102.

The interface unit 220 receives various signals and data from an external system. When the panel 102 is in a portable device, the interface unit 220 may include a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI). The MIPI is an interface with low power consumption, a high transmission speed, and high expandability, and thus may be used for the portable device.

The data processing unit 230 rearranges the data supplied via the interface unit 220 in accordance with the resolution of the panel 102, and stores the rearranged data in the memory 250. The data processing unit 230 processes the data stored in the memory 250 using, for example, a picture quality improving algorithm and a command (for example, brightness control) supplied via the interface unit 220.

The memory 250 stores the data and may be a random access memory (RAM) or another type of memory.

The channel unit 240 receives the data stored in the memory 250 and generates data signals based on control of the data processing unit 230. For example, the channel unit 240 may select one of a plurality of gamma voltages as a data signal based on a data bit. The data signals generated by the channel unit 240 are supplied to data lines D.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the interface unit 220 of FIG. 3 which includes an MIPI 222 and a crack detecting unit 300. The MIPI 222 is an interface which receives various signals and data from an external system. The MIPI 222 has a standardized specification.

The crack detecting unit 300 transmits and receives information corresponding to the crack to and from adjacent integrated circuits using a transmission terminal Tx and a reception terminal Rx in the specification of the MIPI 222.

The crack detecting unit 300 includes a voltage supplying/receiving unit 302, a voltage detecting unit 304, a resetting unit 306, and a transmitting/receiving unit 308. The voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 supplies or receives a predetermined voltage. For example, the voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 supplies a predetermined voltage to the sensing line 130 or receives the voltage supplied from the sensing line 130.

The voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 in the first integrated circuit 200 of FIG. 2 may supply the predetermined voltage to the sensing line 130. Then, the voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 in the third integrated circuit 202 of FIG. 2 may receive the predetermined voltage from the sensing line 130. The voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 in the second integrated circuit 202 not connected to the sensing line 130 does not perform an operation at this time.

The voltage detecting unit 304 receives the voltage received by the voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 and detects the level of the voltage. When the voltage has a level lower than a predetermined level, the voltage detecting unit 304 supplies a detection signal to the resetting unit 306. For example, when a crack occurs in the panel 102, the resistance of the sensing line 130 increases. When the resistance of the sensing line 130 increases, the voltage received by the voltage detecting unit 304 has a level lower than a predetermined level. In this case, the voltage detecting unit 304 supplies the detection signal to the resetting unit 306.

The resetting unit 306 controls an entire operation of the crack detecting unit 300. For example, when the detection signal is supplied from the voltage detecting unit 304, the resetting unit 306 supplies an error signal to an adjacent integrated circuit by using the transmitting/receiving unit 308. The error signal may be a signal indicative of the crack of the panel 102.

When the error signal is received by the transmitting/receiving unit 308, the resetting unit 306 may supply the error signal and/or a reset signal to the adjacent integrated circuit using the transmitting/receiving unit 308. The reset signal may be a signal corresponding to an off state of the integrated circuit.

When the reset signal is received from the transmitting/receiving unit 308, the resetting unit 306 sets the integrated circuit (one of 200, 201, or 202) that includes the resetting unit 306 to an off state. In one embodiment, the resetting unit 306 that receives the reset signal may control the voltage unit 210, the data processing unit 230, the channel unit 240, and the memory 250 to be in off states.

The transmitting/receiving unit 308 receives the error signal and/or the reset signal from the adjacent integrated circuit or transmits the error signal and/or the reset signal to the adjacent integrated circuit. For this purpose, the transmitting/receiving unit 308 may include the transmission terminal Tx and the reception terminal Rx. The transmission terminal Tx and the reception terminal Rx may be terminals included by the specification of the MIPI 222. When the transmission terminal Tx and the reception terminal Rx of the transmitting/receiving unit 308 correspond to the specification of the MIPI 222, an additional terminal is not included in the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 in order to transmit/receive crack information of the panel 102. The omission of this additional terminal allows for a reduction in manufacturing costs and dead space.

The reset signal and the error signal may be previously allotted to predetermined data in accordance with the specification of the MIPI 222. For example, “000001” is set as the reset signal and “100001” may be set as the error signal. When the reset signal and the error signal are transmitted/received by using the MIPI 222, a driving speed increases so that the crack of the panel 102 may be detected within a short time.

In FIG. 4, the voltage supplying/receiving unit 302, the voltage detecting unit 304, the resetting unit 306, and/or the transmitting/receiving unit 308 are outside the MIPI 222. In one embodiment, the voltage supplying/receiving unit 302, the voltage detecting unit 304, the resetting unit 306, and/or the transmitting/receiving unit 308 may be in the MIPI 222.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a process for detecting a panel crack and a process for resetting an integrated circuit. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a method for inspecting a panel of a display device. The elements in the first integrated circuit 200 will be referred to as “first elements,” the elements in the second integrated circuit 201 will be referred to as “second elements,” and the elements in the third integrated circuit 202 will be referred to as “third elements.”

Supply and/or Receive the Voltage: Operation S600

First, the first voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 in the first integrated circuit 200 supplies the predetermined voltage to the sensing line 130. The predetermined voltage from the first voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 is supplied to the third voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 in the third integrated circuit 202 via the sensing line 130.

Determine Whether a Normal Voltage is Received: Operation S602

The third voltage detecting unit 304 in the third integrated circuit 202 determines whether the voltage received by the third voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 is a normal voltage. For example, when the voltage received by the third voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 has a level no less than a predetermined level, the third voltage detecting unit 304 determines that the voltage is the normal voltage. When it is determined by the third voltage detecting unit 304 that the voltage received by the third voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 is the normal voltage, operations S600 and S602 are repeated. Thus, when a crack is not generated in the panel 102, operations S600 and S602 are repeated.

When the voltage received by the third voltage supplying/receiving unit 302 has a level lower than the predetermined level, the third voltage detecting unit 304 determines that the voltage is not the normal voltage. In this case, the third voltage detecting unit 304 supplies the detection signal to the third resetting unit 306 in the third integrated circuit 202.

Transmit and/or Receive the Error Signal: Operation S604

The third resetting unit 306 that receives the detection signal supplies the error signal to the second transmitting/receiving unit 308 in the second integrated circuit 201 using the third transmitting/receiving unit 308. At this time, the second resetting unit 306 in the second integrated circuit 201 supplies the error signal to the first transmitting/receiving unit 308 in the first integrated circuit 200 using the second transmitting/receiving unit 308.

Transmit and/or Receive the Reset Signal: Operation S606

When the error signal is received by the first transmitting/receiving unit 308, the first resetting unit 306 in the first integrated circuit generates the reset signal. The first resetting unit 306 that generates the reset signal supplies the reset signal to the second transmitting/receiving unit 308 using the first transmitting/receiving unit 308. The reset signal supplied to the second transmitting/receiving unit 308 is supplied to the second resetting unit 306. The second resetting unit 306 that receives the reset signal supplies the reset signal to the third transmitting/receiving unit 308 using the second transmitting/receiving unit 308.

Reset the Integrated Circuit: Operation S608

The first resetting unit 306 that generates the reset signal and the second resetting unit 306 and the third resetting unit 306 that receive the reset signal turn off the voltage unit 210, the data processing unit 230, the channel unit 240, and the memory 250 that are in each of the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202. Thus, the first through third resetting units 306 set the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 in which the first through third resetting units 306 are respectively to be in off states.

When the integrated circuits 200, 201, and 202 are in off states, power sources and the data signals are not supplied to the panel 102. Thus, when a crack occurs in the panel 102, the power sources and data signals for driving the panel 102 are not supplied. As a result, driving stability may be secured.

In accordance with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, a data driver includes a plurality of integrated circuits. A first integrated circuit supplies a predetermined voltage to another integrated circuit via a sensing line. The other integrated circuit detects the level of a voltage from the sensing line and determines whether a crack occurs in a panel based on the detected level.

The methods, processes, and/or operations described herein may be performed by code or instructions to be executed by a computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device. The computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device may be those described herein or one in addition to the elements described herein. Because the algorithms that form the basis of the methods (or operations of the computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device) are described in detail, the code or instructions for implementing the operations of the method embodiments may transform the computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device into a special-purpose processor for performing the methods described herein.

The drivers, processors, units, interfaces areas, and other signal generating and processing features of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in logic which, for example, may include hardware, software, or both. When implemented at least partially in hardware, the drivers, processors, units, interfaces areas, and other signal generating and processing features may be, for example, any one of a variety of integrated circuits including but not limited to an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array, a combination of logic gates, a system-on-chip, a microprocessor, or another type of processing or control circuit.

When implemented in at least partially in software, the drivers, processors, units, interfaces areas, and other signal generating and processing features may include, for example, a memory or other storage device for storing code or instructions to be executed, for example, by a computer, processor, microprocessor, controller, or other signal processing device. The computer, processor, microprocessor, controller, or other signal processing device may be those described herein or one in addition to the elements described herein. Because the algorithms that form the basis of the methods (or operations of the computer, processor, microprocessor, controller, or other signal processing device) are described in detail, the code or instructions for implementing the operations of the method embodiments may transform the computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device into a special-purpose processor for performing the methods described herein.

In accordance with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, when a determination is made that a crack has occurred in the panel, an error signal from the other integrated circuit is sequentially supplied to the first integrated circuit and/or another integrated circuit. Then, a reset signal corresponding to the error signal is sequentially supplied to the first integrated circuit and one or more other integrated circuits. The integrated circuits that receive the reset signal are set to off states to secure driving stability.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a sensing line in a panel; and a data driver including a plurality of integrated circuits, each of the integrated circuits including an interface which includes: a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connected to an external system; and a crack detector to detect a crack of the panel based on the sensing line and to transmit and receive information corresponding to the crack to and from adjacent ones of the integrated circuits using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI, wherein the sensing line includes a first side connected to a first integrated circuit among the integrated circuits and a second side connected to a second integrated circuit among the integrated circuits.
 2. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crack detector includes: a voltage supplier/receiver to supply or receive a voltage to or from the sensing line; a voltage detector to determine whether the voltage from the voltage supplier/receiver is a normal voltage; and reset logic connected to the voltage detector to transmit and receive at least one of an error signal or a reset signal using the transmission terminal and the reception terminal.
 3. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the error signal is indicative of the crack of the panel.
 4. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reset signal corresponds to an off state of the first and second integrated circuits.
 5. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the error signal is to be sequentially supplied to the second integrated circuit through the first integrated circuit.
 6. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reset signal is to be sequentially supplied to the first integrated circuit through the second integrated circuit.
 7. The display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reset signal is to set the first and second integrated circuits in off states.
 8. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: when a level of the voltage is lower than a predetermined level, the voltage detector is to determine that the voltage is an abnormal voltage and is to supply a detection signal to the reset logic.
 9. The display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reset logic is to supply the error signal to an adjacent one of the integrated circuits.
 10. The display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing line is at an edge of the panel.
 11. A display device, comprising: a sensing line in a panel; and a data driver including a plurality of integrated circuits, each of the integrated circuits including an interface which includes: a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connected to an external system; and a crack detector to detect a crack of the panel based on the sensing line and to transmit and receive information corresponding to the crack to and from adjacent ones of the integrated circuits using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI, wherein each of the integrated circuits includes: a voltage source to output a driving power source; a data processor to rearrange data items supplied via the interface and to store the rearranged data items in a memory; and a channel area to generate data signals based on the data items stored in the memory.
 12. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein: when the crack occurs in the panel, the crack detector is to set the voltage source, the data processor, the memory, and the channel area to be in off states.
 13. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensing line includes a first side connected to a first integrated circuit among the integrated circuits and a second side connected to a second integrated circuit among the integrated circuits.
 14. A method for inspecting a display device including a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI), the method comprising: supplying a predetermined voltage from a first integrated circuit in a data driver to a second integrated circuit in the data driver via a sensing line in a panel; determining, by the second integrated circuit, a level of the predetermined voltage; and turning off integrated circuits in the data driver when the voltage level is lower than a predetermined voltage level, wherein the first and second integrated circuits transmit and receive information corresponding to crack of the panel using a transmission terminal and a reception terminal in the MIPI, wherein, when the voltage level is lower than the predetermined voltage level, the method further includes: generating, by the second integrated circuit, an error signal; and generating a reset signal, by the first integrated circuit, corresponding to the error signal.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the error signal is sequentially supplied to the second integrated circuit through the first integrated circuit.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: sequentially supplying the reset signal to the first and second integrated circuits.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein reset signal turns off the first and second integrated circuits. 